Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government has recovered N799, 402, 158million between January and August 2019 through it’s Citizens Mediation Centre, an agency responsible for resolving disputes.
At a press briefing to mark this year’s International Day of Peace, the Director, Civil Litigation Centre, Lagos Ministry of Justice, Mr Saheed Quadri, said the centre, between January and August this year, handled 30, 467 cases out of which 21,030 have been resolved and over N700milllion recovered.
According to him, the theme for this year’s UN International Day of Peace is “Climate Action for Peace: Clear Blue Skies,” which draws attention to climate change as a threat to international peace and security.
“National disasters, conflicts, food insecurity, growing tension over resources and mass movement of people are all as a result of climate change.
In the lead up to the International day of peace 2019, the United Nations has asked us all to take action by raising awareness: from conserving nature, supporting renewable energy to adopting environmentally friendly practices,” he said.
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He added: “This year’s theme seeks to draw attention of government, policy makers, stakeholders and citizens to the importance of combatting climate change as a way to protect and promote peace throughout the world. The Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), an agency of government that promotes peace in Lagos State, has always joined the United Nations to commemorate this day.”
He stated further that “this year’s theme relates to how environmental challenges affect homes and the society at large. Climate change causes clear threats to international peace and security. Natural disasters displace three times as many people as conflicts, forcing millions to leave their homes and seek safety elsewhere. Desertification, flooding, pollution of the air, land and sea are some of the adverse effects of the harsh treatment of the environment. These as a result lead to the displacement of families, loss of lives, loss of sources of income and properties which inevitably lead to unavoidable conflict.”
As a way of marking the Day, the Director, Citizens Mediation Centre, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, said the agency will embark on a week-long programme and activities such as tree planting. She added the agency would also support the less privileged through proceeds from sales of plastics to recyclable companies by the agency.
